Apparatus and method for performing radio communication

ABSTRACT

An apparatus including: a communication unit configured to perform radio communication; and a control unit configured to perform control such that control information regarding a filter length of a filter for limiting a width of a guard band in a frequency band to be used in the radio communication is transmitted to an external apparatus through the radio communication. The filter length is determined in accordance with at least one of a frequency resource and a time resource for the radio communication. The apparatus enables a filter improving frequency use efficiency.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/070,693, filed Jul. 17, 2018, which is based on PCT filingPCT/JP2016/082840, filed on Nov. 4, 2016, which claims priority ofJapanese Patent Application No. 2016-012195, filed on Jan. 26, 2016, theentire contents of each are incorporated herein by reference as aportion of the application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method.

BACKGROUND ART

In orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) andsingle-carrier frequency-division multiple access (SC-FDMA), which areadopted in Long Term Evolution (LTE)/LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), radioresources (e.g., resource blocks) are allocated to users withoutoverlap. There are cases in radio communication systems employing OFDMAor SC-FDMA in which some frequency bands among bands that are not usedin data transmission (Out-of-Bands or OOBs) are used as guard bands forreducing power leakage to adjacent systems.

In addition, a New Waveform technology has gained attention as onetechnology that is expected to improve frequency use efficiency amongradio access technologies (RATs) for the fifth generation (5G) mobilecommunication systems following LTE/LTE-A in recent years. The NewWaveform technology is a technology of cutting leaking power by applyingfilters to a transmission signal waveform and thereby improvingfrequency use efficiency. By applying the New Waveform technology,attenuation of signals of OOBs, more limitations on frequency bands tobe used as guard bands, and further improvement in frequency useefficiency are expected.

In addition, there are cases in radio communication based on OFDMA,SC-FDMA, and the like in which guard intervals are added to transmissionsignals in order to remove inter-symbol interference caused by delaywaves. Patent Literature 1, for example, discloses one example of a casein which a guard interval is added to a transmission signal.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP 2006-180321A

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

Meanwhile, in a case in which the New Waveform technology is supported,there is a possibility of a filter application affecting a symbol lengthof a transmission signal or throughput. Thus, a mechanism that enables afilter to be applied in a more preferable mode is desired.

Therefore, the present disclosure proposes an apparatus and a methodthat enable a filter for improving frequency use efficiency to beapplied in a more preferable mode.

Solution to Problem

According to the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatusincluding: a communication unit configured to perform radiocommunication; and a control unit configured to perform control suchthat control information regarding a filter length of a filter forlimiting a width of a guard band in a frequency band to be used in theradio communication is transmitted to an external apparatus through theradio communication. The filter length is determined in accordance withat least one of a frequency resource and a time resource for the radiocommunication.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, there is provided anapparatus including: a communication unit configured to perform radiocommunication; and a control unit configured to perform control suchthat control information regarding a filter length of a filter, which isfor limiting a width of a guard band in a frequency band to be used inthe radio communication, in accordance with a length of a guard intervalin a case in which the filter is not applied is transmitted to anexternal apparatus through the radio communication.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, there is provided anapparatus including: a communication unit configured to perform radiocommunication; and an acquisition unit configured to acquire controlinformation regarding a filter length of a filter for limiting a widthof a guard band in a frequency band to be used in the radiocommunication from an external apparatus through the radiocommunication. The filter length is determined in accordance with atleast one of a frequency resource and a time resource for the radiocommunication.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, there is provided anapparatus including: a communication unit configured to perform radiocommunication; and a control unit configured to perform control suchthat a filter for limiting a width of a guard band in a frequency bandto be used in the radio communication is applied to transmission data ona basis of control information regarding a filter length of the filterand the filter-applied transmission data is transmitted to an externalapparatus through the radio communication. The filter length isdetermined in accordance with at least one of a frequency resource and atime resource for the radio communication.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, there is provided amethod including: performing radio communication; and performingcontrol, by a processor, such that control information regarding afilter length of a filter for limiting a width of a guard band in afrequency band to be used in the radio communication is transmitted toan external apparatus through the radio communication. The filter lengthis determined in accordance with at least one of a frequency resourceand a time resource for the radio communication.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, there is provided amethod including: performing radio communication; and performingcontrol, by a processor, such that control information regarding afilter length of a filter, which is for limiting a width of a guard bandin a frequency band to be used in the radio communication, in accordancewith a length of a guard interval in a case in which the filter is notapplied is transmitted to an external apparatus through the radiocommunication.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, there is provided amethod including: performing radio communication; and acquiring, by aprocessor, control information regarding a filter length of a filter forlimiting a width of a guard band in a frequency band to be used in theradio communication from an external apparatus through the radiocommunication. The filter length is determined in accordance with atleast one of a frequency resource and a time resource for the radiocommunication.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, there is provided amethod including: performing radio communication; and performingcontrol, by a processor, such that a filter for limiting a width of aguard band in a frequency band to be used in the radio communication isapplied to transmission data on a basis of control information regardinga filter length of the filter and the filter-applied transmission datais transmitted to an external apparatus through the radio communication.The filter length is determined in accordance with at least one of afrequency resource and a time resource for the radio communication.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present disclosure described above, an apparatus and amethod that enable a filter for improving frequency use efficiency to beapplied in a more preferable mode are provided.

Note that the effects described above are not necessarily limitative.With or in the place of the above effects, there may be achieved any oneof the effects described in this specification or other effects that maybe grasped from this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an overview of a NewWaveform technology.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an overview of a NewWaveform technology.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of aschematic configuration of a system according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofa base station according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofa terminal apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a processperformed by a transmission apparatus that supports the New Waveformtechnology.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a processperformed by a transmission apparatus that supports the New Waveformtechnology.

FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a processperformed by a transmission apparatus that supports the New Waveformtechnology.

FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a processperformed by a transmission apparatus that supports the New Waveformtechnology.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a processperformed by a reception apparatus that supports the New Waveformtechnology.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of aconfiguration of a resource block.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of aconfiguration of a resource block.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of aconfiguration of a resource block.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of asubcarrier in a case in which a filter is not applied.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of asubcarrier in a case in which filters are applied.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of asubcarrier in a case in which filters are applied and guard intervalsare added.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of another configuration ofthe subcarrier in a case in which filters are applied and a guardinterval is added.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of a series ofprocesses relating to determination of a filter application setting anda guard interval length.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of a series ofprocesses relating to switching of a filter application setting and aguard interval length.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a first example of a schematicconfiguration of an eNB.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a second example of theschematic configuration of the eNB.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematicconfiguration of a smartphone.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematicconfiguration of a car navigation apparatus.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, (a) preferred embodiment (s) of the present disclosure willbe described in detail with reference to the appended drawings. In thisspecification and the appended drawings, structural elements that havesubstantially the same function and structure are denoted with the samereference numerals, and repeated explanation of these structuralelements is omitted.

Note that description will be provided in the following order.

1. Introduction

1.1. New Waveform technology

1.2. Technical problem

2. Configuration examples

2.1. Configuration example of system

2.2. Configuration example of base station

2.3. Configuration example of terminal apparatus

3. Technical features

4. Application examples

4.1. Application example regarding base station

4.2. Application example regarding terminal apparatus

5. Conclusion

1. Introduction 1.1. New Waveform Technology

First, an overview of a New Waveform technology will be described withreference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are explanatorydiagrams for explaining an overview of the New Waveform technology.

In orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) andsingle-carrier frequency-division multiple access (SC-FDMA), which areadopted in Long Term Evolution (LTE) or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), radioresources (e.g., resource blocks) are allocated to users withoutoverlap. FIG. 1, for example, illustrates an example of a frequencydomain power spectrum of transmission signals in a case in which OFDMAis applied. In FIG. 1, the horizontal axis represents frequency bands ina subcarrier and the vertical axis represents levels of transmissionpower.

In the waveforms of the transmission signal illustrated in FIG. 1, thefrequency band indicated by reference numeral W11 represents a frequencyband used in data transmission (excluding NULL subcarriers), andfrequency bands other than that are Out-of-Bands (OOBs) not used in datatransmission. In addition, there are cases in which, among the OOBs, atleast some frequency bands are provided as a guard band for reducingpower leaking to an adjacent system. In a case in which no guard band isprovided, for example, even in a case in which power of about −10 dB isset in a subcarrier with maximum power among the OOBs, power up toapproximately −20 dB to −30 dB can be attenuated by providing guardbands.

By providing guard bands at both sides of a frequency band used in datatransmission in LTE/LTE-A by using the above-described mechanism,interference due to power leaking to an adjacent system can be reduced.

Meanwhile, there are cases in which the guard bands cause frequency useefficiency to deteriorate because some of the frequency bands are usedas unused bands (i.e., the bands are not used in data transmission). Asa specific example, in a case in which a channel width is 20 MHz, bandsof approximately 2 MHz (1 MHz for one side) are allocated as guardbands, and frequency use efficiency decreases by about 10% in this case.

Thus, the New Waveform technology has gained attention as one technologythat is expected to improve frequency use efficiency among radio accesstechnologies (RATs) for the fifth generation (5G) mobile communicationsystems following LTE/LTE-A. The New Waveform technology is a technologyof cutting leaking power by applying a filter to a transmission signalwaveform and thereby improving frequency use efficiency. For example,FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a frequency domain power spectrum ofthe transmission signal illustrated in FIG. 1 in a case in which a DolphShebychev filter is applied to the transmission signal. Note that thehorizontal axis and the vertical axis of FIG. 2 represent the same asthose in the example illustrated in FIG. 1. In addition, in FIG. 2, thewaveform of the transmission signal before the application of the filter(i.e., the waveform illustrated in FIG. 1) is also presented.

As indicated by the waveform of the transmission signal after the filterapplication in FIG. 2, it is ascertained that power decreases in theOOBs due to the filter application. In this manner, by applying the NewWaveform technology (i.e., applying the filter to the transmissionsignal), attenuation of signals of the OOBs, more limitations on thefrequency band widths to be used as guard bands, and further improvementin frequency use efficiency are expected.

Note that, if the frequency band widths to be used as the guard bandscan be further limited, the type of filter to be applied to thetransmission signal is not necessarily limited to the Dolph Chebyshevfilter illustrated in FIG. 2. As a specific example, there are cases inwhich a so-called Nyquist filter such as a root-raised-cosine filter isapplied as a filter for realizing the New Waveform technology. Inaddition, a filter applied to the transmission signal is not necessarilylimited to a single filter, and a filter to be applied may be adaptivelyselected from a plurality of filters. For example, the above-describedDolph Chebyshev filter or root-raised-cosine filter may be selectivelyapplied depending on a situation. Note that, in a case in which it issimply described as a “filter” in the following description, it isassumed to indicate a filter for further limiting frequency band widthsto be used as guard bands, like the above-described filter unlessspecified otherwise.

The overview of the New Waveform technology has been described abovewith reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

1.2. Technical Problem

Next, a technical problem according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure will be described.

As described above, the New Waveform technology enables power leaking tothe OOBs to be further reduced by applying the filter (e.g., a DolphChebyshev filter) to the transmission signal. Meanwhile, in the case inwhich the filter is applied, a symbol length of the transmission signalincreases according to a filter length of the filter, and further thereis a possibility of the filter application affecting throughput. Inaddition, a case in which a guard interval (GI) is added to thetransmission signal is also assumed, and thus the addition of the guardinterval can also cause the symbol length of the transmission signal toincrease. For this reason, various settings relating to filterapplication (which will also be referred to simply as a “filterapplication setting” below, e.g., a filter length, or the like), whethera guard interval is to be added when a filter is applied, and how alength of the guard interval (which will also be referred to as a “guardinterval length” below) is to be determined are important matters to beconsidered to support the New Waveform technology.

Therefore, in the present disclosure, examples of a mechanism whichenables a filter for improving frequency use efficiency to be applied ina more preferable mode will be described focusing on the filterapplication setting, whether a guard interval is to be applied, and howa guard interval length is to be determined.

2. Configuration Examples 2.1. Configuration Example of System

First, an example of a schematic configuration of a system 1 accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described withreference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining anexample of a schematic configuration of the system 1 according to theembodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 3, thesystem 1 includes radio communication apparatuses 100 and terminalapparatuses 200. Here, the terminal apparatuses 200 are also calledusers. The users can also be called UE. The radio communicationapparatus 100C is also called UE-Relay. Here, UE may be UE defined inLTE or LTE-A, and the UE-Relay may be Prose UE to Network Relaydiscussed in the 3GPP, or may more generally mean a communicationdevice.

(1) Radio Communication Apparatus 100

Each of the radio communication apparatuses 100 is an apparatus thatprovides radio communication services to apparatuses under its control.The radio communication apparatus 100 is a base station of a cellularsystem (or mobile communication system). The base station 100A performsradio communication with an apparatus (e.g., the terminal apparatus200A) located in a cell 10A of the base station 100A. For example, thebase station 100A transmits a downlink signal to the terminal apparatus200A, and receives an uplink signal from the terminal apparatus 200A.

The base station 100A and another base station are logically connectedthrough, for example, an X2 interface and can transmit and receivecontrol information and the like to and from each other. In addition,the base station 100A and a so-called core network (illustration ofwhich is omitted) are logically connected through, for example, an S1interface and can transmit and receive control information and the liketo and from each other. Note that communication between the apparatusescan be physically relayed by various apparatuses.

Here, the radio communication apparatus 100A illustrated in FIG. 3 is amacro cell base station, and a cell 10A is a macro cell. Meanwhile, theradio communication apparatuses 100B and 100C are master devices eachoperating small cells 10B and 10C. As an example, the master device 100Bis a fixedly installed small cell base station. The small cell basestation 100B establishes each of a radio backhaul link with the macrocell base station 100A and an access link with one or more terminalapparatuses (e.g., the terminal apparatus 200B) within the small cell10B. Note that the radio communication apparatus 100B may be a relaynode defined in the 3GPP. The master device 100C is a dynamic accesspoint (AP). The dynamic AP 100C is a mobile device dynamically operatingthe small cell 10C. The dynamic AP 100C establishes each of a radiobackhaul link with the macro cell base station 100A and an access linkwith one or more terminal apparatuses (e.g., the terminal apparatus200C) within the small cell 10C. The dynamic AP 100C may be, forexample, a terminal apparatus in which hardware or software that canoperate as a base station or a radio access point is mounted. The smallcell 10C of that case is a dynamically formed local network (localizednetwork/virtual cell).

The cell 10A may be managed in accordance with an arbitrary radiocommunication scheme, for example, LTE, LTE-A (LTE-Advanced), GSM(registered trademark), UMTS, W-CDMA, CDMA 200, WiMAX, WiMAX 2, IEEE802.16, or the like.

Note that a small cell is a concept in which the cell can be disposed tooverlap or not to overlap a macro cell and include various kinds ofcells smaller than the macro cell (e.g., a femto cell, a nano cell, apico cell, a micro cell, and the like). In a certain example, a smallcell is managed by a dedicated base station. In another example, a smallcell is managed when a terminal serving as a master device temporarilyoperates as a small cell base station. A so-called relay node can alsobe deemed as a form of a small cell base station. A radio communicationapparatus functioning as a master station of a relay node is also calleda donor base station. A donor base station may mean a DeNB in LTE ormore generally mean a master station of a relay node.

(2) Terminal Apparatus 200

The terminal apparatus 200 can perform communication in a cellularsystem (or mobile communication system). The terminal apparatus 200performs radio communication with a radio communication station (e.g.,the base station 100A, or the master apparatus 100B or 100C) of thecellular system. For example, the terminal apparatus 200A receives adownlink signal from the base station 100A, and transmits an uplinksignal to the base station 100A.

(3) Supplement

Although the schematic configuration of the system 1 has been introducedabove, the present technology is not limited to the example illustratedin FIG. 3. As a configuration of the system 1, for example, aconfiguration with no master device, Small Cell Enhancement (SCE), aheterogeneous network (HetNet), a machine type communication (MTC)network, or the like can be adopted.

2.2. Configuration Example of Base Station

Next, the configuration of the base station 100 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference toFIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the example of theconfiguration of the base station 100 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. According to FIG. 4, the base station 100 includesan antenna unit 110, a radio communication unit 120, a networkcommunication unit 130, a storage unit 140, and a processing unit 150.

(1) Antenna Unit 110

The antenna unit 110 radiates signals output by the radio communicationunit 120 out into space as radio waves. In addition, the antenna unit110 converts radio waves in the space into signals, and outputs thesignals to the radio communication unit 120.

(2) Radio Communication Unit 120

The radio communication unit 120 transmits and receives signals. Forexample, the radio communication unit 120 transmits a downlink signal toa terminal apparatus, and receives an uplink signal from a terminalapparatus.

(3) Network Communication Unit 130

The network communication unit 130 transmits and receives information.For example, the network communication unit 130 transmits information toother nodes, and receives information from other nodes. For example, theother nodes include another base station and a core network node.

(4) Storage Unit 140

The storage unit 140 temporarily or permanently stores a program andvarious data for operation of the base station 100.

(5) Processing Unit 150

The processing unit 150 provides various functions of the base station100. The processing unit 150 includes a communication processing unit151 and a notification unit 153. Further, the processing unit 150 mayfurther include other components in addition to these components. Thatis, the processing unit 150 may perform operations in addition tooperations of these components.

Operations of the communication processing unit 151 and the notificationunit 153 will be described below in detail.

2.3. Configuration Example of Terminal Apparatus

Next, an example of the configuration of the terminal apparatus 200according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be describedwith reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating theexample of the configuration of the terminal apparatus 200 according toan embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 5, theterminal apparatus 200 includes an antenna unit 210, a radiocommunication unit 220, a storage unit 230, and a processing unit 240.

(1) Antenna Unit 210

The antenna unit 210 radiates signals output by the radio communicationunit 220 out into space as radio waves. In addition, the antenna unit210 converts radio waves in the space into signals, and outputs thesignals to the radio communication unit 220.

(2) Radio Communication Unit 220

The radio communication unit 220 transmits and receives signals. Forexample, the radio communication unit 220 receives a downlink signalfrom a base station, and transmits an uplink signal to a base station.

(3) Storage Unit 230

The storage unit 230 temporarily or permanently stores a program andvarious data for operation of the terminal apparatus 200.

(4) Processing Unit 240

The processing unit 240 provides various functions of the terminalapparatus 200. For example, the processing unit 240 includes aninformation acquisition unit 241, a communication processing unit 243,and a notification unit 245. Note that the processing unit 240 mayfurther include a structural element other than these structuralelements. That is, the processing unit 240 may perform operation otherthan the operation of these structural elements.

Operations of the information acquisition unit 241, the communicationprocessing unit 243, and the notification unit 245 will be describedbelow in detail.

3. Technical Features

Next, technical features of the present disclosure will be described.

(1) Processes by Each Apparatus

(a) Processes by Transmission Apparatus

First, examples of processes performed by a transmission apparatus thatsupports the New Waveform technology will be described with referenceFIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8A. FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8A are explanatorydiagrams for explaining examples of processes performed by thetransmission apparatus that supports the New Waveform technology. A bitstream (e.g., a transport block) of each user is processed asillustrated in FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8A. On the bit stream of eachuser, several processes, for example, cyclic redundancy check (CRC)coding, forward error correction (FEC) coding, rate matching, andscrambling/interleaving) are performed as illustrated in FIG. 6, andthen modulation is performed. Then, on the modulated bit stream, layermapping, power allocation, precoding, resource element mapping areperformed, and bit streams of each of antenna elements are output asillustrated in FIG. 7.

The bit streams of each of the antennas are divided into units decidedon the basis of a size (in other words, the number of resources) in atleast any of a frequency direction and a time direction having resourceelements as minimum units. At this time, each of the units includes oneor more resource elements. In addition, each of the units is subjectedto a filtering process for further limiting frequency bandwidths to beused as guard bands. Note that the units are units to which a filter isapplied (which will also be referred to as “filter application units”below). In the example illustrated in FIG. 8A, for example, each ofresource elements constituting a resource block is divided into B unitsfrom 0 to B−1, and a process relating to filter application is executedon each of the units. Specifically, the bit stream of each antenna issubjected to a filtering process after an IFFT or IDFT process isperformed on each unit.

Then, the bit streams of each of the units that have undergone thefiltering process are added together, guard intervals are added theretoif necessary, conversion from digital to analog/radio frequency (RF) orthe like is performed thereon, and then the results are transmitted fromeach of the antennas.

Note that each of the above-described processes performed by thetransmission apparatus may be executed on the basis of control by apredetermined control unit (e.g., the PHY configuration controller inthe drawing).

In addition, although the example in which the filter is applied to thebit streams (i.e., transmission signals) of each of the antennas in thetime domain has been described above, a filter may be applied thereto inthe frequency domain. For example, FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram fordescribing an example of a process performed by the transmissionapparatus that supports the New Waveform technology, and the example inwhich a filter is applied to bit streams of each of antennas in thefrequency domain is shown. In this case, the filtering process may beperformed on each of units of the bit streams of each of the antennasand then the IFFT or IDFT process may be performed on thefiltering-processed units as illustrated in FIG. 8B. Note that thefollowing processes are similar to the case in which the filter isapplied in the time domain as illustrated in FIG. 8A.

(b) Processes by Reception Apparatus

Next, an example of processes performed by a reception apparatus thatsupports the New Waveform technology will be described with reference toFIG. 9. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the example ofthe processes performed by the reception apparatus that supports the NewWaveform technology.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, processes of conversion from RF/analog todigital, zero padding, a discrete Fourier transform (DFT)/fast Fouriertransform (FFT), down sampling, equalization and decoding, and the likeare performed on a signal received by each of antennas. Note that, inthe reception apparatus that supports the New Waveform technology, theinverse process of the filtering process based on the New Waveformtechnology is performed at the time of equalization and decoding. As aresult, bit streams ((e.g., transport blocks) for respective users areobtained. Note that more details of the reception process will bedescribed below along with description of a reception signal.

In addition, each of the above-described processes performed by thereception apparatus may be executed on the basis of control by apredetermined control unit (e.g., the PHY configuration controller inthe drawing).

(2) Transmission Signal and Reception Signal

Next, a transmission signal and a reception signal in a case in whichthe New Waveform technology is supported will be described. Note that,in the present description, a multi-cell system of a heterogeneousnetwork (HetNet), Small Cell Enhancement (SCE), or the like is assumed.In addition, in the present description, an index corresponding to asubcarrier, a symbol, a sample, a slot, and an index corresponding to asubframe will not be described unless specified otherwise.

A reception apparatus that is a transmission target is set to u, and thenumber of transmission antennas of a transmission apparatus thattransmits a signal to the reception apparatus is set to N_(t). Note thateach of the transmission antennas is also called a “transmission antennaport.” Here, a transmission signal to the reception apparatus u can beexpressed in a vector format as indicated by the following (Formula 1).

$\begin{matrix}\left\lbrack {{Math}.\mspace{14mu} 1} \right\rbrack & \; \\\begin{matrix}{X_{u} = \begin{bmatrix}ϰ_{u,0,0} & \cdots & ϰ_{u,0,{N + N_{(i)} + N_{f} - 2}} \\\vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\ϰ_{u,{N_{l} - 1},0} & \cdots & ϰ_{u,{N_{l} - 1},{N + N_{GI} + N_{f} - 2}}\end{bmatrix}^{T}} \\{= {\sum\limits_{b = 0}^{B - 1}\;{\Omega_{u,b}G_{u,b}F^{H}P_{u,b}W_{u,b}S_{u,b}}}} \\{= {\sum\limits_{b = 0}^{B - 1}\left( {\underset{\underset{\Omega_{u,b}{\lbrack{{({N + N_{f} + N_{GI} - 1})} \times {({N + N_{f} - 1})}}\rbrack}}{︸}}{\begin{bmatrix}I_{N + N_{j} - 1} \\0 \\\vdots \\\vdots \\\vdots \\0\end{bmatrix}}\underset{\underset{G_{u,b}{\lbrack{{({N + N_{f} - 1})} \times N}\rbrack}}{︸}}{\begin{bmatrix}{g_{u,b}(0)} & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\\vdots & {g_{u,b}(0)} & \ddots & \vdots \\{g_{u,b}\left( {N_{f} - 1} \right)} & \vdots & \ddots & 0 \\0 & {g_{u,b}\left( {N_{f} - 1} \right)} & \ddots & {g_{u,b}(0)} \\\vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\0 & 0 & \cdots & {g_{u,b}\left( {N_{f} - 1} \right)}\end{bmatrix}}{\underset{\underset{F^{H}{\lbrack{N \times N}\rbrack}}{︸}}{\begin{bmatrix}e^{{({{- i}\; 2\;{\pi/N}})} \cdot 0} & e^{{({{- i}\; 2\;{\pi/N}})} \cdot 0} & \cdots & e^{{({{- i}\; 2\;{\pi/N}})} \cdot {({N - 1})} \cdot 0} \\e^{{({{- i}\; 2\;{\pi/N}})} \cdot 0} & e^{{({{- i}\; 2\;{\pi/N}})} \cdot 1} & \cdots & e^{{({{- i}\; 2\;{\pi/N}})} \cdot {({N - 1})} \cdot 1} \\\vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\\vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\\vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\e^{{({{- i}\; 2\;{\pi/N}})} \cdot 0} & e^{{({{- i}\; 2\;{\pi/N}})} \cdot {({N - 1})}} & \cdots & e^{{({{- i}\; 2\;{\pi/N}})} \cdot {({N - 1})} \cdot {({N - 1})}}\end{bmatrix}}}^{H} \times} \right.}} \\{\left. \left. {\underset{\underset{P_{u,b}{\lbrack{N_{t} \times N_{t}}\rbrack}}{︸}}{\begin{bmatrix}P_{u,b,0,0} & \cdots & P_{u,b,{N_{t} - 1},0} \\\vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\P_{u,b,0,{N_{t} - 1}} & \cdots & P_{u,b,{N_{t} - 1},{N_{t} - 1}}\end{bmatrix}}\underset{\underset{W_{u,b}{\lbrack{N_{ss} \times N_{t}}\rbrack}}{︸}}{\begin{bmatrix}W_{u,b,0,0} & \cdots & W_{u,b,0,{N_{ss} - 1}} \\\vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\W_{u,b,{N_{t} - 1},0} & \cdots & W_{u,b,{N_{t} - 1},{N_{ss} - 1}}\end{bmatrix}}\underset{\underset{S_{u,b}{\lbrack{N_{ss} \times N}\rbrack}}{︸}}{\begin{bmatrix}S_{u,b,0,0} & \cdots & S_{u,b,0,{N - 1}} \\\vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\S_{u,b,{N_{ss} - 1},0} & \cdots & S_{u,b,{N_{ss} - 1},{N - 1}}\end{bmatrix}}} \right\rbrack^{T} \right),}\end{matrix} & \left( {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 1} \right)\end{matrix}$

In the above-described (Formula 1), N denotes an FFT size length. Inaddition, N_(f) denotes a filter length, and B denotes the number ofsub-bands to which a filter is applied. In addition, N_(t) denotes thenumber of transmission antennas, and N_(ss) denotes the number ofspatial transmission streams. In addition, the vector S_(u,b) denotes aspatial stream signal of the reception apparatus u in a sub-band b. Eachelement of the vector S_(u,b) basically corresponds to a digitalmodulation symbol of PSK, QAM, or the like. Here, for example, ifsub-band b=0 is assumed to be a set of subcarriers from 0^(th) tok−1-th, the condition indicated by the following (Formula 2) is assumedto be satisfied.[Math. 2]S _(u,0,n) _(SS) _(,k) ˜S _(u,0,n) _(SS) _(,N-1)=0(0≤n _(ss) ≤N_(ss)−1)   (Formula 2)

W_(u,b) denotes a precoding matrix for the sub-band b of the receptionapparatus u. In addition, P_(u,b) denotes a power allocation coefficientmatrix for the sub-band b of the reception apparatus u. Note that eachelement of the matrix P_(u,b) is desirably a positive real number. Inaddition, the matrix P_(u,b) may be a so-called diagonal matrix (i.e., amatrix of which elements other than the diagonal elements are 0). Thematrix P_(u,b) is expressed by the following (Formula 3), for example.

$\begin{matrix}\left\lbrack {{Math}.\mspace{14mu} 3} \right\rbrack & \; \\{P_{u,b} = \begin{bmatrix}P_{u,b,0,0} & 0 & \ldots & 0 \\0 & P_{u,b,1,1} & \ddots & \vdots \\\vdots & \ddots & \ddots & 0 \\0 & \ldots & 0 & P_{u,b,{N_{t} - 1},{N_{t} - 1}}\end{bmatrix}} & \left( {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 3} \right)\end{matrix}$

If adaptive power allocation for a spatial stream is not performed, ascalar value P_(u,b) may be used instead of the matrix P_(u,b).

The vector F denotes an FFT matrix with a size N. In addition, thevector Ω_(u,b) corresponds to insertion of a guard interval (GI). I_(N)in Ω_(u,b) denotes a unit matrix with a size N, and N_(GI) denotes alength of a guard interval. In addition, the vector G_(u,b) denotes alinear convolution matrix of a filter applied to the sub-band b of thereception apparatus u.

In addition, if a reception signal received by the reception apparatus uin a case in which a transmission signal of a transmission antenna#n_(t) is received by a reception antenna #n_(r) is assumed to ber_(u,nt,nr), the reception signal r_(u,nt,nr) is expressed by thefollowing (Formula 4).

$\begin{matrix}\left\lbrack {{Math}.\mspace{14mu} 4} \right\rbrack & \; \\\begin{matrix}{r_{u,n_{t},n_{r}} = \begin{bmatrix}r_{u,n_{t},n_{r},0} \\\vdots \\r_{u,n_{t},n_{r},{N + N_{f} + N_{GI} + L_{h} - 3}}\end{bmatrix}} \\{= {{h_{u,n_{t},n_{r}}x_{u,n_{r}}} + n_{u,n_{r}}}} \\{= {{\underset{\underset{h_{u}{\lbrack{{({N + N_{f} + N_{GI} + L_{h} - 2})} \times {({N + N_{f} + N_{GI} - 1})}}\rbrack}}{︸}}{\begin{bmatrix}{h_{u,n_{t},n_{r}}(0)} & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\\vdots & {h_{u,n_{t},n_{r}}(0)} & \ddots & \vdots \\{h_{u,n_{t},n_{r}}\left( {L_{h} - 1} \right)} & \vdots & \ddots & 0 \\0 & {h_{u,n_{t},n_{r}}\left( {L_{h} - 1} \right)} & \ddots & {h_{u,n_{t},n_{r}}(0)} \\\vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\0 & 0 & \cdots & {h_{u,n_{t},n_{r}}\left( {L_{h} - 1} \right)}\end{bmatrix}}\underset{\underset{ϰ_{u,{n_{t}{\lbrack{{({N + N_{f} + N_{GI} - 1})} \times 1}\rbrack}}}}{︸}}{\begin{bmatrix}ϰ_{u,{n_{t}{.0}}} \\ϰ_{u,{n_{t}{.1}}} \\\vdots \\\vdots \\\vdots \\ϰ_{u,n_{t},{N + N_{f} + N_{CP} - 1}}\end{bmatrix}}} +}} \\{\underset{\underset{n_{u,{n_{r}{\lbrack{{({N + N_{f} + N_{GI} + L_{h} - 2})} \times 1}\rbrack}}}}{︸}}{\begin{bmatrix}n_{u,n_{r},0} \\n_{u,n_{r},1} \\\vdots \\\vdots \\\vdots \\n_{u,n_{r},{N + N_{f} + N_{CP} + L_{h} - 3}}\end{bmatrix}}}\end{matrix} & \left( {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 4} \right)\end{matrix}$

Note that, in the above-described (Formula 4), L_(h) denotes the numberof transmission line paths. In addition, the matrix h_(u,nt,nr) denotesa channel response matrix between the transmission antenna n_(t) and thereception antenna n_(r). Note that each element of the matrixh_(u,nt,nr) is basically a complex number. In addition, the vectorn_(u,nr) denotes noise of the reception antenna n_(r) of the receptionapparatus u. Note that the noise n_(u,nr) includes, for example, thermalnoise or interference from a system other than the system that is theobject of the present disclosure. Note that average noise power isdenoted by σ_(n,u) ².

In addition, in the case in which the New Waveform technology issupported, the above-described reception signal r_(u,nt,nr) correspondsto a signal to which the above-described filter G_(u,b) has beenapplied. Thus, in the course of performing a DFT/FFT, and equalizationand decoding on the reception signal r_(u,nt,nr), the inverse processesof the above-described processes to which the filter G_(u,b) is appliedare performed.

Specifically, a signal length (i.e., the number of sample symbols) ofthe reception signal r_(u,nt,nr) increases by a filter length of thefilter G_(u,b) in accordance with the above-described application of thefilter G_(u,b). Thus, it is necessary for the reception apparatus u atthe time of the DFT/FFT process (i.e., during OFDM decoding) performedon the reception signal r_(u,nt,nr) to consider a size of the filterlength and a size of a delay of a channel in addition to the size of theIFFT at the time of the transmission process. Thus, the receptionapparatus u adjusts the signal length of the reception signalr_(u,nt,nr) to be 2N by executing, for example, zero padding from theend of the reception signal r_(u,nt,nr).

Next, the reception apparatus u converts the reception signalr_(u,nt,nr) that has undergone zero padding into a signal of thefrequency domain by applying the DFT/FFT of the size 2N thereto andapplies ½ down sampling to the converted signal. Through this process,the signal length of the reception signal that has been adjusted to 2Nby performing zero padding thereon is adjusted to N through ½ downsampling.

In addition, the reception apparatus u can decode a transmitted spatialstream signal by executing frequency domain equalization on thedown-sampled reception signal. For example, a minimum mean square error(MMSE) weight is conventionally created in consideration of the channelmatrix h_(u,nt,nr), the precoding matrix W_(u,b), and the noise powerσ_(n,u) ². With respect to this, in the case in which the New Waveformtechnology is supported in the present disclosure, an equalizationweight is created in consideration of the filter matrix G_(u,b) appliedin the transmission signal process.

The transmission signal and the reception signal in the case in whichthe New Waveform technology is supported have been described above.

(3) Setting Examples of Filter Length and Guard Interval Length

Successively, setting examples of filter lengths and guard intervallengths will be described. Thus, in order to facilitate understanding ofcharacteristics of the present embodiment, first, setting examples ofguard intervals in LTE/LTE-A will be described together withconfigurations of resource blocks. In LTE/LTE-A, for example, threecases are assumed as configurations of resource blocks as illustrated inFIG. 10 to FIG. 12, and sizes and guard interval lengths of resourceelements are different in the respective cases. FIG. 10 to FIG. 12 areexplanatory diagrams for describing examples of the configurations ofthe resource blocks.

For example, FIG. 10 illustrates an example of the configuration of theresource block in a case in which the number of symbols is set to 7 andthe number of subcarriers is set to 12. In this case, the band of onesubcarrier is set to 15 kHz, the symbol length of one symbol is 2208 Ts(#0 symbol) or 2192 Ts (#1 to #6 symbols) when Ts=1/30720 [ms]. Inaddition, the guard interval length is 160 Ts in the case of the #0symbol and 144 Ts in the case of #1 to #6 symbols.

In addition, FIG. 11 illustrates an example of the configuration of theresource block in a case in which the number of symbols is set to 6 andthe number of subcarriers is set to 12. In this case, the band of onesubcarrier is 15 kHz and the symbol length of one symbol is 2560 Ts. Inaddition, the guard interval length is 512 Ts.

In addition, FIG. 12 illustrates an example of the configuration of theresource block in a case in which the number of symbols is set to 3 andthe number of subcarriers is set to 24. In this case, the band of onesubcarrier is 7.5 kHz and the symbol length of one symbol is 5120 Ts. Inaddition, the guard interval length is 1024 Ts.

In the present disclosure, a filter length and a guard interval lengthare determined such that a configuration of a resource block (i.e., asize of a resource element) in the case in which a filter is applied issimilar to that of the case in which a filter is not applied (e.g., theexamples illustrated in FIG. 10 to FIG. 12). Here, specific examples ofa filter length setting and a guard interval length will be describedwith reference to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustratingan example of a configuration of a subcarrier in a case in which afilter is not applied. In addition, FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating anexample of a configuration of a subcarrier in a case in which filtersare applied. Note that FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a case in whichno guard interval is added to a filter-applied transmission signal. Inaddition, both of FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 illustrate the examples of theconfigurations of the subcarriers with respect to the configurationexample of the resource block illustrated in FIG. 10.

As a specific example, in the configuration of the resource blockillustrated in FIG. 10, a resource element with a subcarrier index k=0and a symbol index 1=0 is focused. In this case, the guard intervallength in the case in which a filter is not applied is 160 Ts asillustrated in FIG. 13. In addition, a filter is applied in the filterlength equivalent to 160 Ts. For example, in a case in which FFT sizeN=128 is set in the above-described (Formula 1), the length of each datapart (a main body in FIG. 10 and FIG. 13) is 2048 Ts, which isequivalent to 128 samples. Thus, the guard interval length is equivalentto 10 samples in the case of 160 Ts.

The number of samples included in one filter-applied transmission symbolis N+N_(f)+N_(GI)−1 due to (Formula 1). Thus, in a case in which noguard interval is inserted, N=128 and N_(GI)=0 are substituted, therebyN+N_(f)+N_(GI)−1=N_(f)+127=128+10, and therefore the filter lengthN_(f)=11 is obtained. Note that, although the description is providedfocusing on the configuration of the resource block illustrated in FIG.10 in the present description, filter lengths for the configurations ofthe other resource blocks (e.g., the examples illustrated in FIG. 11 andFIG. 12) can be calculated using a similar computation.

In addition, in the configuration of the resource block illustrated inFIG. 10, guard interval lengths vary depending on symbol indexes 1.Thus, in the case in which k=0 and 1=1, for example, the guard intervallength is 144 Ts, and the filter length N_(f)=10 is obtained. That is,in the example illustrated in FIG. 10, the filter length changes inaccordance with time.

Here, in order to facilitate comparison of FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, thesymbol lengths of respective resource elements are equal in the case inwhich a filter is not applied (FIG. 13) and the case in which the filteris applied (FIG. 14). That is, when the filter length is determined asdescribed above, the configuration of the resource block of the case inwhich the filter is applied (FIG. 14) becomes similar to that of thecase in which a filter is not applied (FIG. 13), and therefore backwardcompatibility can be maintained.

In addition, although no guard interval is added in the case in whichthe filter is applied in the example illustrated in FIG. 14, guardintervals may be added also to the case in which the filter is applied.Thus, examples of cases in which filters are applied to transmissionsignals and guard intervals are added to the filter-applied transmissionsignal will be described with reference to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16. Notethat both of FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 illustrate examples of configurationsof subcarriers with respect to the configuration example of the resourceblock illustrated in FIG. 10.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 14, for example, #0 symbol and #1 to#6 symbols have different filter lengths. On the other hand, a desirablecase in which filters having the same filter length are applied to allsymbols can also be assumed depending on a transmission/receptionenvironment or a use case. In such a case, for example, a common valuemay be set as the filter length for all of the symbols and an amount ofinsufficient samples may be supplemented with guard intervals afterfilter application.

As a specific example, FIG. 15 illustrates an example of a configurationof a subcarrier in a case in which filters are applied and guardintervals are added thereto. More specifically, in the exampleillustrated in FIG. 15, the filter lengths of the filters applied to therespective #0 to #6 symbols are set to N_(f)=7. In this case, forexample, a guard interval length of #0 symbol may be set to 4 samples(64 Ts) and a guard interval length of each of #1 to #6 symbols may beset to 3 samples (48 Ts).

In addition, FIG. 16 illustrates another example of a configuration of asubcarrier in a case in which filters are applied and a guard intervalis added thereto. In the example illustrated in FIG. 16, a common valueis set for the filter length of all of the symbols, and a guard intervalis added only to a symbol of which a symbol length is insufficient afterfilter application. More specifically, in the example illustrated inFIG. 16, the filter lengths of the filters applied to the respective #0to #6 symbols are set to N_(f)=10. In this case, one sample (16 Ts) isinsufficient for the symbol length only of #0 symbol after filterapplication. Thus, in the example illustrated in FIG. 16, the guardinterval having a size of one sample (16 Ts) is added only to #0 symbolof the filter-applied transmission signal, and only the filters areapplied to #1 to #6 symbols.

In accordance with various conditions, for example, characteristics ofthe system, a reception environment of the terminal apparatus, a levelof a delay wave, and the like, a filter application setting (e.g., afilter length) or a guard interval length may be adaptively changed onthe basis of the above-described processes. Accordingly, throughput ofthe overall system can also be improved, for example, in accordance witha situation.

The examples of the filter length settings and guard interval lengthshave been described above with reference to FIG. 10 to FIG. 16.

(4) Filter Application Setting and Guard Interval Length DeterminationMethod

Successively, an example of a method of determining a filter applicationsetting (e.g., a filter length) and a guard interval length will bedescribed. With respect to a filter application setting and a guardinterval length, a case in which a predetermined setting thereof isfixedly used (i.e., a fixed case) and a case in which a setting thereofis changeable in accordance with a situation (i.e., a variable case) areexemplified. In addition, as the cases in which a filter applicationsetting and a guard interval length are variable, a case in which afilter application setting and a guard interval length aresemi-statically determined and a case in which the elements aredynamically determined are exemplified. Thus, the case in which a filterapplication setting and a guard interval length are fixed, the case inwhich the elements are semi-statically determined, and the case in whichthe elements are dynamically determined will each be described indetail.

(a) Case in which Filter Application Setting and Guard Interval Lengthare Fixed

First, the case in which a filter application setting and a guardinterval length are fixed will be described. In the case in which afilter application setting and a guard interval length are fixed, afilter application setting and a guard interval length are determined asspecifications (e.g., communication protocols, or the like), and thebase station and the terminal apparatus apply a filter to transmissionsignals on the basis of the specifications. Note that the filterapplication setting, addition of a guard interval in a case in which afilter is applied, and the guard interval length may be determined inaccordance with, for example, the configurations of the resource blocksdescribed with reference to FIG. 10 to FIG. 12 (in other words, at leastone of a frequency resource and a time resource).

Note that information representing a filter application setting and aguard interval length may be stored by each of the base station and theterminal apparatus in a readable storage area (e.g., the storage unit140 and the storage unit 230). In addition, as another example, the basestation may read the information representing the filter applicationsetting and the guard interval length from the predetermined storagearea and notify the terminal apparatus of the information regarding thefilter application setting and the guard interval length in accordancewith the read result.

(b) Case in which Filter Application Setting and Guard Interval Lengthare Semi-Statically Determined

Next, the case in which a filter application setting and a guardinterval length are semi-statically determined will be described. In thecase in which a filter application setting and a guard interval lengthare semi-statically determined, the base station and the terminalapparatus prescribe candidates for setting values that can be taken as afilter application setting and a guard interval length in advance. Inaddition, for example, the base station determines a filter applicationsetting and a guard interval length among the prescribed candidates onthe basis of a predetermined condition and notify the terminal apparatusof information regarding the determined filter application setting andguard interval length. Table 1 below shows, for example, an example ofcandidates for setting values of the filter application setting and theguard interval length.

TABLE 1 Filter application setting and guard interval length GuardFilter Filter Filter Interval Index Filter type Length Attenuator Length000 Dolph Shebychev 10 3.0 0 001 Dolph Shebychev  7 4.0 3 010 RootRaised Cosine 10 0.2 0 011 Root Raised Cosine  7 0.5 3 . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .

Note that, in the above-described Table 1, “Filter Index” representsidentification information for identifying each of the candidates forthe setting values of the filter application setting and the guardinterval length. In addition, “Filter Type” represents types of appliedfilters. As the types of applied filters, for example, theabove-described Dolph Chebyshev filter and root-raised-cosine filter areexemplified. In addition, “Filter Attenuator” represents parameters foradjusting output levels of signals (in other words, attenuation amountsof signals) resulting from filter application.

The information representing the candidates for the setting values ofthe filter application setting and the guard interval length shown inTable 1 may be stored by each of the base station and the terminalapparatus in a readable storage area (e.g., the storage unit 140 and thestorage unit 230). In addition, as another example, the terminalapparatus may recognize the candidates for the setting values of thefilter application setting and the guard interval length when the basestation notifies the terminal apparatus of the information representingthe candidates for the setting values of the filter application settingand the guard interval length.

Note that, in a case in which the base station determines (switches) afilter application setting and a guard interval length, the base stationnotifies the terminal apparatus of information regarding the determinedfilter application setting and guard interval length. Note that, as theinformation of which the base station notifies the terminal, forexample, information directly representing the setting values of thefilter application setting and the guard interval length, identificationinformation (index values) associated with the setting values of thefilter application setting and the guard interval length, and the likeare exemplified.

Next, methods of the base station notifying the terminal apparatus ofthe information regarding the filter application setting and the guardinterval length will be focused. As methods of notifying of theinformation regarding the filter application setting and the guardinterval length, for example, there are the following examples.

-   -   Notifying as part of RRC signaling (RRC Message)    -   Notifying as part of system information    -   Notifying as part of downlink control information (DCI)

Note that, although the case in which the base station determines thefilter application setting and the guard interval length has beenfocused on in the above-described example, a main agent that determinesthe filter application setting and the guard interval length is notnecessarily limited to the base station. As a specific example, theterminal apparatus may determine the filter application setting and theguard interval length. Note that, in that case, the terminal apparatusmay notify the base station of the information regarding the determinedfilter application setting and guard interval length as part of, forexample, RRC signaling or uplink control information (UCI).

Next, a timing at which the base station switches the filter applicationsetting and the guard interval length will be focused on. For example,although the base station may perform switching of the filterapplication setting and the guard interval length for each piece of datato be transmitted each time, the base station may determine a switchingtiming and switch the filter application setting and the guard intervallength on the basis of the determination result.

As a timing at which the base station switches the filter applicationsetting and the guard interval length, there are the following examples.

-   -   Switching based on feedback from the terminal apparatus on a        communication quality    -   Switching at each predetermined timing (e.g., for one frame,        etc.)    -   Switching at a retransmission timing    -   Switching based on a request for a communication quality from        the terminal apparatus

As a more specific example, the base station can detect degradation in aquality of communication with the terminal apparatus on the basis offeedback from the terminal apparatus on the communication quality. Thus,in the case in which the quality of communication with the terminalapparatus is degraded, for example, the base station may promote toimprove characteristics of the communication by switching the guardinterval length to a longer setting. Likewise, a possibility of acommunication quality being degraded in a situation in which data isretransmitted to the terminal apparatus is also conceivable. In the casein which the communication quality is degraded like the above, the basestation may promote to improve characteristics of the communication byswitching the guard interval length to a longer setting.

In addition, a case in which a communication quality required by theterminal apparatus differs depending on a use application of theterminal apparatus can be assumed. As a specific example, in a case inwhich high quality communication is required, the base station mayreinforce a measure against a propagation delay by switching a filterlength or a guard interval length to a relatively long setting. On theother hand, in a case in which low latency communication is required,the base station may lessen the latency by, for example, switching thefilter length or the guard interval length to a relatively short settingto further shorten symbol lengths after filter and guard intervalapplication. Note that, in that case, the base station may determine afilter application setting and a guard interval length, for example, inaccordance with a request for a communication quality (e.g., Quality ofService or QoS) from the terminal apparatus.

In addition, the base station may notify the terminal apparatus that itis a timing at which the filter application setting and the guardinterval length can be switched on the basis of a determination resultof the timing at which the filter application setting and the guardinterval length are switched. In a case in which the notification isreceived from the base station, the terminal apparatus determineswhether switching of the filter application setting and the guardinterval length is necessary. Then, in a case in which the terminalapparatus determines switching of the filter application setting and theguard interval length to be necessary, the terminal apparatus notifiesthe base station of a request for switching of the filter applicationsetting and the guard interval length. In this case, the base stationmay switch the filter application setting and the guard interval lengthin accordance with the request from the terminal apparatus.

Note that, as timings at which the terminal apparatus requests switchingof the filter application setting and the guard interval length from thebase station, there are the following examples.

-   -   In a case in which a measurement result of a communication        quality is a threshold value or lower    -   In a case in which a decoding error occurs

With the above-described configuration, the filter application settingand the guard interval length can be switched in accordance with asituation. In addition, even in a case in which the filter applicationsetting and the guard interval length are switched, the terminalapparatus can recognize the switched filter application setting andguard interval length on the basis of a notification from the basestation.

(c) Case in which Filter Application Setting and Guard Interval Lengthare Dynamically Determined

Next, the case in which a filter application setting and a guardinterval length are dynamically determined will be described. In thecase, for example, the base station determines the filter applicationsetting and the guard interval length on the basis of a predeterminedcondition, that is, a predetermined determination criterion fordetermining the filter application setting and the guard intervallength. In this case, the base station notifies the terminal apparatusof information regarding the determined filter application setting andguard interval length. Note that, as the information of which the basestation notifies the terminal apparatus, for example, informationrepresenting setting value situations of the filter application settingand the guard interval length, index values associated with the filterapplication setting and the guard interval length, and the like areexemplified. With the above-described configuration, the terminalapparatus can recognize the switched setting on the basis of thenotification even in the case in which the filter application settingand the guard interval length have been switched.

Note that, as methods of the base station notifying the terminalapparatus of the information regarding the filter application settingand the guard interval length, there are the following examplessimilarly to the above-described case in which a filter applicationsetting and a guard interval length are semi-statically determined.

-   -   Notifying as part of RRC signaling (RRC Message)    -   Notifying as part of system information    -   Notifying as part of DCI

In addition, the terminal apparatus may determine a filter applicationsetting and a guard interval length. In this case, the terminalapparatus may notify the base station of information of the determinedfilter application setting and guard interval length, for example, aspart of RRC signaling or uplink control information (UCI).

In addition, there are the following examples with respect to a timingat which the base station switches the filter application setting andthe guard the interval length, similarly to the above-described case inwhich a filter application setting and a guard interval length aresemi-statically determined.

-   -   Switching based on feedback from the terminal apparatus on a        communication quality    -   Switching at each predetermined timing (e.g., for one frame,        etc.)    -   Switching at a retransmission timing    -   Switching based on a request for a communication quality from        the terminal apparatus

In addition, the base station may notify the terminal apparatus that itis a timing at which the filter application setting and the guardinterval can be switched on the basis of a determination result of thetiming at which the filter application setting and the guard intervallength are switched. This point is also similar to the above-describedcase in which a filter application setting and a guard interval lengthare semi-statically determined. That is, the terminal apparatus mayreceive a notification on the timing from the base station and notifythe base station of a request for switching of the filter applicationsetting and the guard interval length. In this case, the base stationmay switch the filter application setting and the guard interval lengthin accordance with the request from the terminal apparatus.

With the above-described configuration, the filter application settingand the guard interval length can be flexibly switched in accordancewith a situation. In addition, even in a case in which the filterapplication setting and the guard interval have been switched, theterminal apparatus can recognize the switched filter application settingand guard interval length on the basis of a notification from the basestation.

(5) Flow of Process

Successively, examples of flows of processes of the system according tothe present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 17 andFIG. 18.

(a) Processes Relating to Determination of Filter Application Settingand Guard Interval Length

First, an example of a flow of a series of processes relating todetermination of a filter application setting and a guard intervallength will be described with reference to FIG. 17. FIG. 17 is aflowchart illustrating the example of the flow of the series ofprocesses relating to determination of a filter application setting anda guard interval length. Note that, in the present description, the basestation 100 will be assumed to determine a filter application settingand a guard interval length.

First, the base station 100 (the communication processing unit 151)determines whether a filter for further limiting a frequency band widthto be used as a guard band is to be applied to a transmission signal(S101). In a case in which it is determined that a filter is not to beapplied (NO in S101), the base station 100 ends the series of processesrelating to determination of a filter application setting and a guardinterval length.

In addition, in a case in which it is determined that a filter is to beapplied (YES in S101), the base station 100 (the communicationprocessing unit 151) checks a unit size in a frequency direction and atime direction of a resource block (RB) to which the filter is to beapplied (S103).

Next, the base station 100 (the communication processing unit 151)checks a guard interval length in a case in which a filter is notapplied on the basis of the checking result of the unit size in thefrequency direction and the time direction of the resource block (RB)(S105).

Then, in a case in which a guard interval is added (YES in S107), thebase station 100 (the communication processing unit 151) determines afilter length and a length of a guard interval added after filterapplication so as to be substantially equal to the guard interval lengthof the case in which a filter is not applied (S109). Note that, at thistime, the base station 100 may determine a filter length and a length ofa guard interval added after filter application on the basis of theabove-described predetermined condition (determination criterion).

In addition, in a case in which no guard interval is added (NO in S107),the base station 100 (the communication processing unit 151) determinesa filter length so as to be substantially equal to the guard intervallength of the case in which a filter is not applied (S111).

The example of the flow of the series of processes relating to thedetermination of the filter application setting and the guard intervallength has been described above with reference to FIG. 17.

(b) Process Relating to Switching of Filter Application Setting andGuard Interval Length

Next, an example of a flow of a series of processes relating toswitching of a filter application setting and a guard interval lengthwill be described with reference to FIG. 18. FIG. 18 is a flowchartillustrating the example of the flow of the series of processes relatingto switching of a filter application setting and a guard intervallength. Note that, in the present description, the base station 100 willbe assumed to switch a filter application setting and a guard intervallength. That is, the main agent of the processes indicated by referencenumerals S201 to S205 and S213 in the drawing is the base station 100,and the main agent of the processes indicated by reference numerals S207to S211 is the terminal apparatus 200.

First, the base station 100 (the communication processing unit 151)checks whether it is a timing at which a filter application setting(e.g., a filter length) and a guard interval length can be switched(S201). In a case in which it is not a timing at which a filterapplication setting and a guard interval length can be switched (NO inS201), the series of processes ends without performing switching.

In addition, in a case in which it is a timing at which a filterapplication setting can be switched (YES in S201), the base station 100(the communication processing unit 151) checks whether it is a timing atwhich the switching is necessary (S203). In a case in which it is atiming at which switching of a filter application setting and a guardinterval length is necessary (YES in S203), the base station 100 (thecommunication processing unit 151) determines a filter applicationsetting and a guard interval length on the basis of a predeterminedcondition. Then, the base station 100 (the notification unit 153)notifies the terminal apparatus 200 of information relating to thedetermined filter application setting and guard interval length (S213).

On the other hand, it is determined that it is not a timing at whichswitching of a filter application setting and a guard interval length isnecessary (NO in S203), the base station 100 (the notification unit 153)notifies the terminal apparatus 200 that the switching is possible(S205). Upon receiving the notification, the terminal apparatus 200 (thecommunication processing unit 243) determines whether a request forswitching of a filter application setting and a guard interval length isto be made with respect to the base station 100 on the basis of apredetermined condition (S207). Note that, in a case in which theterminal apparatus 200 determines not to make a request for switching ofa filter application setting and a guard interval length (NO in S209),the series of processes ends without performing switching.

In addition, in a case in which it is determined to make a request forswitching of a filter application setting and a guard interval length(YES in S209), the terminal apparatus 200 (the notification unit 245)notifies the base station 100 of the request for switching. Uponreceiving the notification, the base station 100 (the communicationprocessing unit 151) determines a filter application setting and a guardinterval length on the basis of the predetermined condition. Then, thebase station 100 (the notification unit 153) notifies the terminalapparatus 200 of the information regarding the determined filterapplication setting and guard interval length (S213).

In addition, the terminal apparatus 200 (the information acquisitionunit 241) receives the notification of the information regarding thefilter application setting and the guard interval length from the basestation 100. Accordingly, the terminal apparatus 200 (the communicationprocessing unit 243) can recognize the setting of the filter to beapplied to a signal transmitted from the base station 100 and the lengthof the guard interval added to the filter-applied signal, and thus cancorrectly decode the signal transmitted from the base station 100. Inaddition, the terminal apparatus 200 (the information acquisition unit241) may apply the filter for the transmitted signal to a signal to betransmitted to the base station 100 or add the guard interval for thefilter-applied transmitted signal thereto in accordance with theinformation notified from the base station 100. Accordingly, the basestation 100 can correctly decode the signal transmitted from theterminal apparatus 200.

The example of the flow of the series of processes relating to theswitching of the filter application setting and the guard intervallength has been described above with reference to FIG. 18.

4. Application Examples

The technology according to the present disclosure is applicable to avariety of products. For example, the base station 100 may beimplemented as any type of evolved node B (eNB) such as a macro eNB or asmall eNB. A small eNB may be an eNB that covers a smaller cell than amacro cell, such as a pico eNB, a micro eNB, or a home (femto) eNB.Alternatively, the base station 100 may be implemented as another typeof base station such as a node B or a base transceiver station (BTS).The base station 100 may include a main body (which is also referred toas base station apparatus) that controls radio communication, and one ormore remote radio heads (RRHs) disposed in a different place from thatof the main body. In addition, various types of terminals describedbelow may operate as the base station 100 by temporarily orsemi-permanently executing the base station function. Moreover, at leastsome of components of the base station 100 may be implemented in a basestation apparatus or a module for the base station apparatus.

In addition, the terminal apparatus 200 may be implemented as, forexample, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet personalcomputer (PC), a notebook PC, a portable game terminal, aportable/dongle type mobile router or a digital camera, or an onboardterminal such as a car navigation apparatus. In addition, the terminalapparatus 200 may be implemented as a terminal (which is also referredto as machine type communication (MTC) terminal) that performsmachine-to-machine (M2M) communication. Further, at least somecomponents of the terminal apparatus 200 may be implemented in modules(e.g., integrated circuit modules each including one die) mounted onthese terminals.

4.1. Application Example Regarding Base Station First ApplicationExample

FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a first example of the schematicconfiguration of an eNB to which the technology according to the presentdisclosure can be applied. An eNB 800 includes one or more antennas 810and a base station apparatus 820. Each antenna 810 can be connected tothe base station apparatus 820 via an RF cable.

Each of the antennas 810 includes one or more antenna elements (e.g., aplurality of antenna elements included in an MIMO antenna), and is usedfor the base station apparatus 820 to transmit and receive radiosignals. The eNB 800 includes the plurality of antennas 810 asillustrated in FIG. 19. For example, the plurality of antennas 810 maybe compatible with a plurality of respective frequency bands used by theeNB 800. Note that FIG. 19 illustrates the example in which the eNB 800includes the plurality of antennas 810, but the eNB 800 may also includethe one antenna 810.

The base station apparatus 820 includes a controller 821, a memory 822,a network interface 823, and a radio communication interface 825.

The controller 821 may be, for example, a CPU or a DSP, and operates thevarious functions of a higher layer of the base station apparatus 820.For example, the controller 821 generates a data packet from data insignals processed by the radio communication interface 825, andtransfers the generated packet via the network interface 823. Thecontroller 821 may bundle data from a plurality of base band processorsto generate the bundled packet, and transfer the generated bundledpacket. In addition, the controller 821 may have logical functions ofperforming control such as radio resource control, radio bearer control,mobility management, admission control, or scheduling. In addition, thecontrol may be executed in corporation with an eNB or a core networknode in the vicinity. The memory 822 includes a RAM and a ROM, andstores a program that is executed by the controller 821, and variouskinds of control data (e.g., terminal list, transmission power data,scheduling data, and the like).

The network interface 823 is a communication interface for connectingthe base station apparatus 820 to a core network 824. The controller 821may communicate with a core network node or another eNB via the networkinterface 823. In that case, the eNB 800 may be connected to a corenetwork node or another eNB through a logical interface (e.g., S1interface or X2 interface). The network interface 823 may also be awired communication interface or a radio communication interface forradio backhaul. In the case where the network interface 823 is a radiocommunication interface, the network interface 823 may use a higherfrequency band for radio communication than a frequency band used by theradio communication interface 825.

The radio communication interface 825 supports any cellularcommunication scheme such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) or LTE-Advanced,and provides radio connection to a terminal positioned in a cell of theeNB 800 via the antenna 810. The radio communication interface 825 cantypically include a baseband (BB) processor 826, an RF circuit 827, andthe like. The BB processor 826 may perform, for example,encoding/decoding, modulating/demodulating, multiplexing/demultiplexingand the like, and executes various kinds of signal processing of layers(such as L1, medium access control (MAC), radio link control (RLC), anda packet data convergence protocol (PDCP)). The BB processor 826 mayhave a part or all of the above-described logical functions instead ofthe controller 821. The BB processor 826 may be a memory that stores acommunication control program, or a module that includes a processor anda related circuit configured to execute the program. Updating theprogram may allow the functions of the BB processor 826 to be changed.In addition, the above-described module may be a card or a blade that isinserted into a slot of the base station apparatus 820. Alternatively,the above-described module may also be a chip that is mounted on theabove-described card or the above-described blade. Meanwhile, the RFcircuit 827 may include a mixer, a filter, an amplifier and the like,and transmits and receives radio signals via the antenna 810.

The radio communication interface 825 includes the plurality of BBprocessors 826, as illustrated in FIG. 19. For example, the plurality ofBB processors 826 may be compatible with plurality of frequency bandsused by the eNB 800. In addition, the radio communication interface 825includes the plurality of RF circuits 827, as illustrated in FIG. 19.For example, the plurality of RF circuits 827 may be compatible withrespective antenna elements. Note that FIG. 19 illustrates the examplein which the radio communication interface 825 includes the plurality ofBB processors 826 and the plurality of RF circuits 827, but the radiocommunication interface 825 may also include the one BB processor 826 orthe one RF circuit 827.

In the eNB 800 shown in FIG. 19, one or more components (thetransmission processing unit 151 and/or the notification unit 153)included in the processing unit 150 described with reference to FIG. 4may be implemented in the radio communication interface 825.Alternatively, at least some of these components may be implemented inthe controller 821. As an example, a module that includes a part (e.g.,BB processor 826) or the whole of the radio communication interface 825and/or the controller 821 may be mounted in the eNB 800, and theabove-described one or more components may be implemented in the module.In this case, the above-described module may store a program for causingthe processor to function as the above-described one or more components(i.e., program for causing the processor to execute the operations ofthe above-described one or more components) and may execute the program.As another example, the program for causing the processor to function asthe above-described one or more components may be installed in the eNB800, and the radio communication interface 825 (e.g., BB processor 826)and/or the controller 821 may execute the program. As described above,the eNB 800, the base station apparatus 820, or the above-describedmodule may be provided as an apparatus that includes the above-describedone or more components, and the program for causing the processor tofunction as the above-described one or more components may be provided.In addition, a readable recording medium having the above-describedprogram recorded thereon may be provided.

In addition, in an eNB 830 illustrated in FIG. 19, the radiocommunication unit 120 described with reference to FIG. 4 may beimplemented in the radio communication interface 825 (e.g., RF circuit827). In addition, the antenna unit 110 may be implemented in theantenna 810. In addition, the network communication unit 130 may beimplemented in the controller 821 and/or the network interface 823. Inaddition, the storage unit 140 may be implemented in the memory 822.

Second Application Example

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a second example of a schematicconfiguration of an eNB to which the technology according to the presentdisclosure can be applied. The eNB 830 includes one or more antennas840, a base station apparatus 850, and an RRH 860. Each antenna 840 maybe connected to the RRH 860 via an RF cable. In addition, the basestation apparatus 850 can be connected to the RRH 860 via a high speedline such as an optical fiber cable.

Each of the antennas 840 includes one or more antenna elements (e.g., aplurality of antenna elements included in an MIMO antenna), and is usedfor the RRH 860 to transmit and receive radio signals. The eNB 830includes the plurality of antennas 840 as illustrated in FIG. 20. Forexample, the plurality of antennas 840 may be compatible with aplurality of respective frequency bands used by the eNB 830. Note thatFIG. 20 illustrates the example in which the eNB 830 includes theplurality of antennas 840, but the eNB 830 may include the one antenna840.

The base station apparatus 850 includes a controller 851, a memory 852,a network interface 853, a radio communication interface 855, and aconnection interface 857. The controller 851, the memory 852, and thenetwork interface 853 are the same as the controller 821, the memory822, and the network interface 823 described with reference to FIG. 19.

The radio communication interface 855 supports any cellularcommunication scheme such as LTE or LTE-Advanced, and provides radiocommunication to a terminal positioned in the sector corresponding tothe RRH 860 via the RRH 860 and the antenna 840. The radio communicationinterface 855 can typically include a BB processor 856 and the like. TheBB processor 856 is similar to the BB processor 826 described withreference to FIG. 19, except that the BB processor 856 is connected tothe RF circuit 864 of the RRH 860 via the connection interface 857. Theradio communication interface 855 includes the plurality of BBprocessors 856 as illustrated in FIG. 19. For example, the plurality ofBB processors 856 may be compatible with a plurality of respectivefrequency bands used by the eNB 830. Note that FIG. 20 illustrates theexample in which the radio communication interface 855 includes theplurality of BB processors 856, but the radio communication interface855 may include the one BB processor 856.

The connection interface 857 is an interface for connecting the basestation apparatus 850 (radio communication interface 855) to the RRH860. The connection interface 857 may also be a communication module forcommunication in the above-described high speed line that connects thebase station apparatus 850 (radio communication interface 855) to theRRH 860.

The RRH 860 includes a connection interface 861 and a radiocommunication interface 863.

The connection interface 861 is an interface for connecting the RRH 860(radio communication interface 863) to the base station apparatus 850.The connection interface 861 may also be a communication module forcommunication in the above-described high speed line.

The radio communication interface 863 transmits and receives radiosignals via the antenna 840. The radio communication interface 863 maytypically include the RF circuit 864 and the like. The RF circuit 864may include a mixer, a filter, an amplifier and the like, and transmitsand receives radio signals via the antenna 840. The radio communicationinterface 863 includes the plurality of RF circuits 864 as illustratedin FIG. 20. For example, the plurality of RF circuits 864 may becompatible with a plurality of respective antenna elements. Note thatFIG. 20 illustrates the example in which the radio communicationinterface 863 includes the plurality of RF circuits 864, but the radiocommunication interface 863 may include the one RF circuit 864.

In the eNB 830 illustrated in FIG. 20, one or more components (thetransmission processing unit 151 and/or the notification unit 153)included in the processing unit 150 described with reference to FIG. 4may be implemented in the radio communication interface 855 and/or theradio communication interface 863. Alternatively, at least some of thesecomponents may be implemented in the controller 851. As an example, amodule that includes a part (e.g., BB processor 856) or the whole of theradio communication interface 855 and/or the controller 821 may bemounted in eNB 830, and the above-described one or more components maybe implemented in the module. In this case, the above-described modulemay store a program for causing the processor to function as theabove-described one or more components (i.e., a program for causing theprocessor to execute the operations of the above-described one or morecomponents) and may execute the program. As another example, the programfor causing the processor to function as the above-described one or morecomponents may be installed in the eNB 830, and the radio communicationinterface 855 (e.g., BB processor 856) and/or the controller 851 mayexecute the program. As described above, the eNB 830, the base stationapparatus 850, or the above-described module may be provided as anapparatus that includes the above-described one or more components, andthe program for causing the processor to function as the above-describedone or more components may be provided. In addition, a readablerecording medium having the above-described program recorded thereon maybe provided.

In addition, in the eNB 830 illustrated in FIG. 10, the radiocommunication unit 120 described, for example, with reference to FIG. 4may be implemented in the radio communication interface 863 (e.g., RFcircuit 864). In addition, the antenna unit 110 may be implemented inthe antenna 840. In addition, the network communication unit 130 may beimplemented in the controller 851 and/or the network interface 853. Inaddition, the storage unit 140 may be implemented in the memory 852.

4.2. Application Example Regarding Terminal Apparatus First ApplicationExample

FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the schematicconfiguration of a smartphone 900 to which the technology of the presentdisclosure can be applied. The smartphone 900 includes a processor 901,a memory 902, a storage 903, an external connection interface 904, acamera 906, a sensor 907, a microphone 908, an input device 909, adisplay device 910, a speaker 911, a radio communication interface 912,one or more antenna switches 915, one or more antennas 916, a bus 917, abattery 918, and an auxiliary controller 919.

The processor 901 may be, for example, a CPU or a system on a chip(SoC), and controls functions of the application layer and another layerof the smartphone 900. The memory 902 includes a RAM and a ROM, andstores a program that is executed by the processor 901, and data. Thestorage 903 can include a storage medium such as a semiconductor memoryor a hard disk. The external connection interface 904 is an interfacefor connecting an external device such as a memory card or a universalserial bus (USB) device to the smartphone 900.

The camera 906 includes an image sensor such as a charge coupled device(CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), and generatesa captured image. The sensor 907 can include, for example, a group ofsensors such as a measurement sensor, a gyro sensor, a geomagneticsensor, and an acceleration sensor. The microphone 908 converts soundinput to the smartphone 900 to sound signals. The input device 909includes, for example, a touch sensor configured to detect touch onto ascreen of the display device 910, a keypad, a keyboard, a button, aswitch or the like, and receives an operation or an information inputfrom a user. The display device 910 includes a screen such as a liquidcrystal display (LCD) or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display,and displays an output image of the smartphone 900. The speaker 911converts sound signals output from the smartphone 900 to sound.

The radio communication interface 912 supports any cellularcommunication scheme such as LTE and LTE-Advanced, and executes radiocommunication. The radio communication interface 912 may typicallyinclude a BB processor 913, an RF circuit 914, and the like. The BBprocessor 913 may perform, for example, encoding/decoding,modulating/demodulating, multiplexing/demultiplexing and the like, andexecutes various kinds of signal processing for radio communication.Meanwhile, the RF circuit 914 may include a mixer, a filter, anamplifier and the like, and transmits and receives radio signals via theantenna 916. The radio communication interface 912 may also be a onechip module that has the BB processor 913 and the RF circuit 914integrated thereon. The radio communication interface 912 may includethe plurality of BB processors 913 and the plurality of RF circuits 914as illustrated in FIG. 21. Note that FIG. 21 illustrates the example inwhich the radio communication interface 912 includes the plurality of BBprocessors 913 and the plurality of RF circuits 914, but the radiocommunication interface 912 may also include the one BB processor 913 orthe one RF circuit 914.

Further, in addition to a cellular communication scheme, the radiocommunication interface 912 may support another type of radiocommunication scheme such as a short-distance radio communicationscheme, a near field communication scheme, or a radio local area network(LAN) scheme. In that case, the radio communication interface 912 mayinclude the BB processor 913 and the RF circuit 914 for each radiocommunication scheme.

Each of the antenna switches 915 switches a connection destination ofthe antenna 916 between a plurality of circuits (e.g., circuits fordifferent radio communication schemes) included in the radiocommunication interface 912.

Each of the antennas 916 includes one or more antenna elements (e.g., aplurality of antenna elements included in an MIMO antenna), and is usedfor the radio communication interface 912 to transmit and receive radiosignals. The smartphone 900 may include the plurality of antennas 916 asillustrated in FIG. 21. Note that FIG. 21 illustrates the example inwhich the smartphone 900 includes the plurality of antennas 916, but thesmartphone 900 may include the one antenna 916.

Further, the smartphone 900 may include the antenna 916 for each radiocommunication scheme. In that case, the antenna switches 915 may beomitted from the configuration of the smartphone 900.

The bus 917 connects the processor 901, the memory 902, the storage 903,the external connection interface 904, the camera 906, the sensor 907,the microphone 908, the input device 909, the display device 910, thespeaker 911, the radio communication interface 912, and the auxiliarycontroller 919 to each other. The battery 918 supplies power to therespective blocks of the smartphone 900 illustrated in FIG. 21 viafeeder lines that are partially illustrated as dashed lines in thefigure. The auxiliary controller 919 operates a minimum necessaryfunction of the smartphone 900, for example, in a sleep mode.

In the smartphone 900 illustrated in FIG. 21, one or more components(the information acquisition unit 241, the communication processing unit243 and/or the notification unit 245) included in the processing unit240 described with reference to FIG. 5 may be implemented in the radiocommunication interface 912. Alternatively, at least some of thesecomponents may be implemented in the processor 901 or the auxiliarycontroller 919. As an example, a module that includes a part (e.g., BBprocessor 913) or the whole of the radio communication interface 912,the processor 901 and/or the auxiliary controller 919 may be mounted inthe smartphone 900, and the above-described one or more components maybe implemented in the module. In this case, the above-described modulemay store a program for causing the processor to function as theabove-described one or more components (i.e., a program for causing theprocessor to execute the operations of the above-described one or morecomponents) and may execute the program. As another example, the programfor causing the processor to function as the above-described one or morecomponents may be installed in the smartphone 900, and the radiocommunication interface 912 (e.g., BB processor 913), the processor 901and/or the auxiliary controller 919 may execute the program. Asdescribed above, the smartphone 900 or the above-described module may beprovided as an apparatus that includes the above-described one or morecomponents, and the program for causing the processor to function as theabove-described one or more components may be provided. In addition, areadable recording medium having the above-described program recordedthereon may be provided.

In addition, in the smartphone 900 illustrated in FIG. 21, the radiocommunication unit 220 described, for example, with reference to FIG. 5may be implemented in the radio communication interface 912 (e.g., RFcircuit 914). In addition, the antenna unit 210 may be implemented inthe antenna 916. In addition, the storage unit 230 may be implemented inthe memory 902.

Second Application Example

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the schematicconfiguration of a car navigation apparatus 920 to which the technologyof the present disclosure can be applied. The car navigation apparatus920 includes a processor 921, a memory 922, a global positioning system(GPS) module 924, a sensor 925, a data interface 926, a content player927, a storage medium interface 928, an input device 929, a displaydevice 930, a speaker 931, a radio communication interface 933, one ormore antenna switches 936, one or more antennas 937, and a battery 938.

The processor 921 may be, for example, a CPU or a SoC, and controls thenavigation function and another function of the car navigation apparatus920. The memory 922 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores a program thatis executed by the processor 921, and data.

The GPS module 924 uses GPS signals received from a GPS satellite tomeasure the position (e.g., latitude, longitude, and altitude) of thecar navigation apparatus 920. The sensor 925 may include, for example, agroup of sensors such as a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, and abarometric sensor. The data interface 926 is connected to, for example,an in-vehicle network 941 via a terminal that is not illustrated, andacquires data such as vehicle speed data generated by the vehicle side.

The content player 927 reproduces content stored in a storage medium(e.g., CD or DVD) that is inserted into the storage medium interface928. The input device 929 includes, for example, a touch sensorconfigured to detect touch onto a screen of the display device 930, abutton, a switch or the like and receives an operation or an informationinput from a user. The display device 930 includes a screen such as anLCD or an OLED display, and displays an image of the navigation functionor content that is reproduced. The speaker 931 outputs the sound of thenavigation function or the content that is reproduced.

The radio communication interface 933 supports any cellularcommunication scheme such as LTE and LTE-Advanced, and executes radiocommunication. The radio communication interface 933 may typicallyinclude a BB processor 934, an RF circuit 935, and the like. The BBprocessor 934 may perform, for example, encoding/decoding,modulating/demodulating, multiplexing/demultiplexing and the like, andexecutes various kinds of signal processing for radio communication.Meanwhile, the RF circuit 935 may include a mixer, a filter, anamplifier and the like, and transmits and receives radio signals via theantenna 937. The radio communication interface 933 may also be a onechip module that has the BB processor 934 and the RF circuit 935integrated thereon. The radio communication interface 933 may includethe plurality of BB processors 934 and the plurality of RF circuits 935as illustrated in FIG. 22. Note that FIG. 22 illustrates the example inwhich the radio communication interface 933 includes the plurality of BBprocessors 934 and the plurality of RF circuits 935, but the radiocommunication interface 933 may also include the one BB processor 934 orthe one RF circuit 935.

Further, in addition to a cellular communication scheme, the radiocommunication interface 933 may support another type of radiocommunication scheme such as a short-distance radio communicationscheme, a near field communication scheme, or a radio LAN scheme. Inthat case, the radio communication interface 933 may include the BBprocessor 934 and the RF circuit 935 for each radio communicationscheme.

Each of the antenna switches 936 switches a connection destination ofthe antenna 937 between a plurality of circuits (e.g., circuits fordifferent radio communication schemes) included in the radiocommunication interface 933.

Each of the antennas 937 includes one or more antenna elements (e.g., aplurality of antenna elements included in an MIMO antenna), and is usedfor the radio communication interface 912 to transmit and receive radiosignals. The car navigation apparatus 920 may include the plurality ofantennas 937 as illustrated in FIG. 22. Note that FIG. 22 illustrates anexample in which the car navigation apparatus 920 includes the pluralityof antennas 937, but the car navigation apparatus 920 may include theone antenna 937.

Further, the car navigation apparatus 920 may include the antenna 937for each radio communication scheme. In that case, the antenna switches936 may be omitted from the configuration of the car navigationapparatus 920.

The battery 938 supplies power to the respective blocks of the carnavigation apparatus 920 illustrated in FIG. 22 via feeder lines thatare partially illustrated as dashed lines in the figure. In addition,the battery 938 accumulates power supplied from the vehicle side.

In the car navigation apparatus 920 illustrated in FIG. 22, one or morecomponents (the information acquisition unit 241, the communicationprocessing unit 243, and/or the notification unit 245) included in theprocessing unit 240 described with reference to FIG. 5 may beimplemented in the radio communication interface 933. Alternatively, atleast some of these components may be implemented in the processor 921.As an example, a module that includes a part (e.g., BB processor 934) orthe whole of the radio communication interface 933 and/or the processor921 may be mounted in the car navigation apparatus 920, and theabove-described one or more components may be implemented in the module.In this case, the above-described module may store a program for causingthe processor to function as the above-described one or more components(i.e., a program for causing the processor to execute the operations ofthe above-described one or more components) and may execute the program.As another example, the program for causing the processor to function asthe above-described one or more components may be installed in the carnavigation apparatus 920, and the radio communication interface 933(e.g., BB processor 934) and/or the processor 921 may execute theprogram. As described above, the car navigation apparatus 920 or theabove-described module may be provided as an apparatus that includes theabove-described one or more components, and the program for causing theprocessor to function as the above-described one or more components maybe provided. In addition, a readable recording medium having theabove-described program recorded thereon may be provided.

In addition, in the car navigation apparatus 920 illustrated in FIG. 22,the radio communication unit 220 described, for example, with referenceto FIG. 5 may be implemented in the radio communication interface 933(e.g., RF circuit 935). In addition, the antenna unit 210 may beimplemented in the antenna 937. In addition, the storage unit 230 may beimplemented in the memory 922.

In addition, the technology according to the present disclosure may alsobe implemented as an in-vehicle system (or a vehicle) 940 including oneor more blocks of the above-described car navigation apparatus 920, thein-vehicle network 941, and a vehicle module 942. That is, thein-vehicle system (or the vehicle) 940 may be provided as an apparatusthat includes the information acquisition unit 241, the communicationprocessing unit 243, and/or the notification unit 245. The vehiclemodule 942 generates vehicle-side data such as vehicle speed, enginespeed, or trouble information, and outputs the generated data to thein-vehicle network 941.

5. Conclusion

The embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above indetail with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 22. As described above, the basestation 100 according to the embodiment notifies the terminal apparatus200 of control information regarding a filter length of a filter forlimiting a width of a guard band in a frequency band to be used in radiocommunication. At this time, the filter length is determined on thebasis of a size (i.e., the number of resources) in at least one of afrequency direction and a time direction. In other words, the filterlength is determined in accordance with a guard interval length in acase in which a filter is not applied.

In addition, in a case in which each of the base station 100 and theterminal apparatus 200 operates as a transmission apparatus, thetransmission apparatus applies a filter for limiting a width of a guardband to transmission data (i.e., a transmission signal) on the basis ofcontrol information regarding a filter length. Then, the transmissionapparatus transmits the filter-applied transmission data to an externalapparatus serving as a transmission destination.

According to the system of the embodiment, a filter application settingfor limiting a width of a guard band and a filter-applied guard intervallength can be adaptively selected or determined in accordance with atransmission/reception environment or a use case with theabove-described configuration. Accordingly, by applying the filter tothe transmission data in a more preferable mode, improvement inthroughput of the whole system is further expected.

In addition, with the above-described configuration, a symbol length offilter-applied transmission data or a symbol length of transmission datato which a filter is applied and a guard interval is added can besubstantially equal to a symbol length of transmission data to which aguard interval is added in the case in which a filter is not applied.That is, according to the system of the embodiment, the configuration ofthe resource block in the case in which a filter is applied is similarto that in the case in which a filter is not applied (i.e., aconventional resource block), and therefore, backward compatibility canbe maintained.

The preferred embodiment (s) of the present disclosure has/have beendescribed above with reference to the accompanying drawings, whilst thepresent disclosure is not limited to the above examples. A personskilled in the art may find various alterations and modifications withinthe scope of the appended claims, and it should be understood that theywill naturally come under the technical scope of the present disclosure.

Further, the effects described in this specification are merelyillustrative or exemplified effects, and are not limitative. That is,with or in the place of the above effects, the technology according tothe present disclosure may achieve other effects that are clear to thoseskilled in the art from the description of this specification.

Additionally, the present technology may also be configured as below.

(1)

An apparatus including:

a communication unit configured to perform radio communication; and

a control unit configured to perform control such that controlinformation regarding a filter length of a filter for limiting a widthof a guard band in a frequency band to be used in the radiocommunication is transmitted to an external apparatus through the radiocommunication,

in which the filter length is determined in accordance with at least oneof a frequency resource and a time resource for the radio communication.

(2)

The apparatus according to (1), in which the filter length is determinedsuch that a data length in a time direction of transmission data towhich the filter is applied is substantially equal to a data length inthe time direction of the transmission data to which a guard interval isadded in a case in which the filter is not applied.

(3)

The apparatus according to (1), in which the filter length is determinedsuch that a data length in a time direction of transmission data towhich the filter is applied and a guard interval is added issubstantially equal to a data length in the time direction of thetransmission data to which a guard interval is added in a case in whichthe filter is not applied.

(4)

The apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3), including: a storageunit configured to store the control information, in which the controlunit performs control such that the control information stored in thestorage unit is transmitted to an external apparatus through the radiocommunication.

(5)

The apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3), in which the controlunit switches the filter length on a basis of a predetermined condition.

(6)

The apparatus according to (5), in which the control unit determines theswitched filter length from a plurality of preset candidates on thebasis of the predetermined condition.

(7)

The apparatus according to (5) or (6), in which the control unitswitches the filter length after receiving a request for switching ofthe filter length from the external apparatus.

(8)

The apparatus according to any one of (5) to (7), in which the controlunit switches the filter length in accordance with at least one of apredetermined timing and a re-transmission timing.

(9)

An apparatus including:

a communication unit configured to perform radio communication; and

a control unit configured to perform control such that controlinformation regarding a filter length of a filter, which is for limitinga width of a guard band in a frequency band to be used in the radiocommunication, in accordance with a length of a guard interval in a casein which the filter is not applied is transmitted to an externalapparatus through the radio communication.

(10)

The apparatus according to (9), in which the filter length is determinedsuch that a data length in a time direction of transmission data towhich the filter is applied is substantially equal to a data length inthe time direction of the transmission data to which a guard interval isadded in the case in which the filter is not applied.

(11)

The apparatus according to (9), in which the filter length is determinedsuch that a data length in a time direction of transmission data towhich the filter is applied and a guard interval is added issubstantially equal to a data length in the time direction of thetransmission data to which a guard interval is added in the case inwhich the filter is not applied.

(12)

The apparatus according to any one of (9) to (11), including:

a storage unit configured to store the control information,

in which the control unit performs control such that the controlinformation stored in the storage unit is transmitted to an externalapparatus through the radio communication.

(13)

The apparatus according to any one of (9) to (11), in which the controlunit switches the filter length on a basis of a predetermined condition.

(14)

The apparatus according to (13), in which the control unit determinesthe switched filter length from a plurality of preset candidates on thebasis of the predetermined condition.

(15)

The apparatus according to (13) or (14), in which the control unitswitches the filter length after receiving a request for switching ofthe filter length from the external apparatus.

(16)

The apparatus according to any one of (13) to (15), in which the controlunit switches the filter length in accordance with at least one of apredetermined timing and a re-transmission timing.

(17)

An apparatus including:

a communication unit configured to perform radio communication; and

an acquisition unit configured to acquire control information regardinga filter length of a filter for limiting a width of a guard band in afrequency band to be used in the radio communication from an externalapparatus through the radio communication,

in which the filter length is determined in accordance with at least oneof a frequency resource and a time resource for the radio communication.

(18)

The apparatus according to (17), including:

a control unit configured to perform control such that a request forswitching of the filter length is transmitted to the external apparatusthrough the radio communication in accordance with a predeterminedcondition.

(19)

The apparatus according to (18), in which the control unit performscontrol such that the request is transmitted to the external apparatusthrough the radio communication in accordance with a quality of theradio communication.

(20)

The apparatus according to (18), in which the control unit performscontrol such that the request is transmitted to the external apparatusthrough the radio communication in accordance with a decoding result ofdata received from the external apparatus through the radiocommunication.

(21)

An apparatus including:

a communication unit configured to perform radio communication; and

a control unit configured to perform control such that a filter forlimiting a width of a guard band in a frequency band to be used in theradio communication is applied to transmission data on a basis ofcontrol information regarding a filter length of the filter and thefilter-applied transmission data is transmitted to an external apparatusthrough the radio communication,

in which the filter length is determined in accordance with at least oneof a frequency resource and a time resource for the radio communication.

(22)

A method including:

performing radio communication; and

performing control, by a processor, such that control informationregarding a filter length of a filter for limiting a width of a guardband in a frequency band to be used in the radio communication istransmitted to an external apparatus through the radio communication,

in which the filter length is determined in accordance with at least oneof a frequency resource and a time resource for the radio communication.

(23)

A method including:

performing radio communication; and

performing control, by a processor, such that control informationregarding a filter length of a filter, which is for limiting a width ofa guard band in a frequency band to be used in the radio communication,in accordance with a length of a guard interval in a case in which thefilter is not applied is transmitted to an external apparatus throughthe radio communication.

(24)

A method including:

performing radio communication; and

acquiring, by a processor, control information regarding a filter lengthof a filter for limiting a width of a guard band in a frequency band tobe used in the radio communication from an external apparatus throughthe radio communication,

in which the filter length is determined in accordance with at least oneof a frequency resource and a time resource for the radio communication.

(25)

A method including:

performing radio communication; and

performing control, by a processor, such that a filter for limiting awidth of a guard band in a frequency band to be used in the radiocommunication is applied to transmission data on a basis of controlinformation regarding a filter length of the filter and thefilter-applied transmission data is transmitted to an external apparatusthrough the radio communication,

in which the filter length is determined in accordance with at least oneof a frequency resource and a time resource for the radio communication.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1 system-   100 base station-   110 antenna unit-   120 radio communication unit-   130 network communication unit-   140 storage unit-   150 processing unit-   151 communication processing unit-   153 notification unit-   200 terminal apparatus-   210 antenna unit-   220 radio communication unit-   230 storage unit-   240 processing unit-   241 information acquisition unit-   243 communication processing unit-   245 notification unit

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a circuitryconfigured to perform radio communication; control such that informationfor determining a width of a guard band in a frequency band to be usedin the radio communication is transmitted, wherein the width isdetermined based on a corresponding configuration of resource blocks anda subcarrier spacing for the radio communication, wherein theinformation for determining the width of the guard band is transmittedas part of radio resource control (RRC) signaling.
 2. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the information for determining the widthof the guard band is information related to a plurality of candidatesfor setting or determining the width of the guard band.
 3. The apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the processor circuit changes the width ona basis of a predetermined condition.
 4. The apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein the guard band is limited by a filter in a frequencyband to be used in the radio communication.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4,wherein the width is further determined based on a time resource for theradio communication.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theprocessor circuit determines the width of the guard band from aplurality of preset candidates on the basis of a predeterminedcondition, or wherein the processor circuit switches the width afterreceiving a request for switching of the width, or wherein the processorcircuit switches the width in accordance with at least one of apredetermined timing or a re-transmission timing.
 7. An apparatuscomprising: a circuitry configured to perform radio communication; andacquire information for determining a width of a guard band in afrequency band to be used in the radio communication, wherein the widthis determined based on a corresponding configuration of resource blocksand a subcarrier spacing for the radio communication, wherein theinformation for determining the width of the guard band is transmittedas part of radio resource control (RRC) signaling.
 8. The apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein the information for determining the widthof the guard band is information related to a plurality of candidatesfor setting or determining the width of the guard band.
 9. The apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein the circuitry further configured toperform control such that a request for switching of the width istransmitted through the radio communication in accordance with apredetermined condition.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, whereinthe circuitry further configured to perform control such that therequest is transmitted through the radio communication in accordancewith a quality of the radio communication or a decoding result of datareceived through the radio communication.
 11. The apparatus according toclaim 9, wherein the guard band is limited by a filter in a frequencyband to be used in the radio communication.
 12. The apparatus of claim11, wherein the width is further determined based on a time resource forthe radio communication.
 13. A method comprising: performing radiocommunication; and performing control, by a processor, such thatinformation for determining a width of a guard band in a frequency bandto be used in the radio communication is transmitted, wherein the widthis determined based on a corresponding configuration of resource blocksand a subcarrier spacing for the radio communication, and wherein theinformation for determining the width of the guard band is transmittedas part of radio resource control (RRC) signaling.
 14. The methodaccording to claim 13, wherein the information for determining the widthof the guard band is information related to a plurality of candidatesfor setting or determining the width of the guard hand.
 15. The methodaccording to claim 14, further comprising: changing the width on a basisof a predetermined condition.
 16. The method according to claim 15,wherein the width is further determined based on a time resource for theradio communication.
 17. A method comprising: performing radiocommunication; and acquiring, by a processor, information fordetermining a width of a guard band in a frequency band to be used inthe radio communication, wherein the width is determined based on acorresponding configuration of resource blocks and a subcarrier spacingfor the radio communication, and wherein the information for determiningthe width of the guard band is transmitted as part of radio resourcecontrol (RRC) signaling.
 18. The method according to claim 17, furthercomprising: controlling such that a request for switching of the widthis transmitted through the radio communication in accordance with apredetermined condition.
 19. The method according to claim 18, furthercomprising: performing control such that the request is transmittedthrough the radio communication in accordance with a decoding result ofdata received through the radio communication.
 20. The method accordingto claim 18, wherein the guard band is limited by a filter in afrequency band to be used in the radio communication.
 21. The method ofclaim 20, wherein the width is further determined based on a timeresource for the radio communication.